Chapter Nine

MAYA

Maya groaned as she stretched her aching muscles, longing for the comforts of her former life. The furs in the hidden cave had been snuggly, but they were a far cry from her plush mattress in New York. She closed her eyes, imagining the rich aroma of a perfectly crafted latte and the blissful relief of a high-end massage chair. But those luxuries were a world away now and probably forever out of her reach. She searched inside herself to see if that was a problem, and she realized it was not.

As she opened her eyes, ready to face another day of trials, Maya's heart sank. Striding towards her with his perpetual scowl was Ranak. Kael's father was as imposing as ever, and Maya couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment. She had hoped for Asha's gentle guidance today.

"It's time for your second trial," Ranak growled, his deep voice rumbling through the clearing. "The Silent Signal Trial. Follow me."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and ran into the dense forest. Maya scrambled to her feet. As she hurried after Ranak's retreating form, she heard his gruff explanation float back to her.

"Communication without detection is crucial for our survival," he said, not bothering to slow his pace or look back at her. "You must learn our complex system of non-verbal signals and sounds. Then, you'll navigate back to the settlement using only these signals. This will test your ability to adapt, your attention to detail, and your skill in interpreting subtle signs in our environment."

Maya tried to process the information while keeping up with Ranak's punishing pace. The forest grew denser with each step, the familiar landmarks of the Tallstrider settlement quickly fading from view. Anxiety began to creep in as she realized how easily she could become lost in this vast wilderness. Lost like she had been as a child.

As if sensing her unease, Maya felt a warm presence in her mind. Kael. That was a new experience. Though not physically with her, their mate bond apparently allowed her to feel his reassuring touch. His voice, clear and comforting, echoed in her thoughts.

"You can do this, Maya," he encouraged. "Trust your instincts. I'm here with you."

His words gave her strength, but the physical challenge of keeping up with Ranak was taking its toll. Maya's breath came in ragged gasps, her legs burning with exertion. Just when she thought she couldn't take another step, she stumbled into a small clearing. Ranak stood in the center, his expression unreadable.

"Pay attention," he said curtly. "I will demonstrate our signals only once."

Maya's heart sank. She reached for her phone, hoping to at least record the lesson, but Ranak's sharp glare stopped her. "No human technology," he growled. "You must learn as we do."

For the next hour, Ranak demonstrated a dizzying array of subtle movements, soft sounds, and even scent markers. Maya struggled to keep up, her mind whirling as she tried to memorize each signal and its meaning. Bird calls that weren't bird calls, scratch marks on trees that conveyed complex messages, the way a branch was bent to indicate direction—it was overwhelming.

Just as Maya felt she was starting to grasp the basics, Ranak straightened up. "Your trial begins now," he announced. "Find your way back to the settlement using only what you've learned. Remember, silence is key."

Before Maya could protest or ask for clarification, Ranak melted into the forest, leaving her alone in the unfamiliar clearing. Panic threatened to overwhelm her as she realized that she was lost. She started to run in the first open direction, running from her fear and from the memories of her nine-year-old self.

When she tripped and fell, she collapsed on the ground and stifled her cries. She didn't want anyone to hear her. Her cheek rested on the forest floor, the smell surprisingly grounding her. It smelled like Kael and of home.

Concentrating, she tried to recall Ranak's lessons. She scanned the trees around her, looking for any of the signs he had shown her. At first, nothing stood out. The forest was a uniform mass of green and brown, devoid of the subtle cues she needed to find her way.

As she stood there, feeling lost and overwhelmed, Maya felt a gentle nudge in her mind. Kael's presence, warm and reassuring, filled her thoughts. Suddenly, she realized she could see the forest through his eyes. The subtle marks on the trees, the barely-there bends in the underbrush—they all stood out clearly now.

Taking a deep breath, Maya took her first tentative steps. She moved slowly, carefully, her senses attuned to the forest in a way they had never been before. As she progressed, she noticed more and more signs. A particular arrangement of pebbles by a tree root. A faint scent mark on a low-hanging branch. Each discovery bolstered her confidence.

Maya made her way through the forest. The sun moved across the sky, filtering through the canopy in ever-changing patterns. Despite her growing skill with the silent signals, the journey was far from easy. Her feet ached, her throat was parched, and hunger gnawed at her stomach. She really could go for an iced cappuccino and some sushi right now.

But with each successful interpretation of a signal, with each correct turn that brought her closer to the settlement, Maya felt a growing sense of accomplishment. She was doing it. She was actually navigating this vast wilderness using the Bigfoot's ancient methods.

With each step, Maya's mental connection with Kael strengthened. She found herself instinctively understanding signals she was sure Ranak hadn't explicitly taught her. It was as if generations of Bigfoot knowledge were flowing into her through her mate bond.

Maya realized she recognized her surroundings. She was close to the cabin that Eric had brought her to. That meant she was close to Kael's hidden cave and the Tallstrider settlement. A smile spread across her face as she quickened her pace, eager to see Kael and share her triumph.

That's when she heard it. A sharp, out-of-place sound that cut through the natural symphony of the forest. The crackle of a radio.

Maya froze. That sound didn't belong here. Every instinct told her to hurry back to the safety of the settlement, just in case Eric was still here looking for her. But then again, if he was there, she owed it to him to say goodbye. That way he wouldn't worry that she was lost or missing.

Moving as silently as she could, drawing on everything she had learned that day, Maya crept towards the source of the sound. As she peered through a dense thicket, her blood ran cold.

There, in a small clearing, was a group of men. They were dressed in camouflage, armed with high-powered rifles and what looked like tranquilizer guns. Sophisticated tracking equipment was spread out on a folding table. And at the center of it all, looking smug and determined, was Eric.

Was this a rescue attempt? No. The weapons and equipment made his intentions clear. He was here to hunt Bigfoot. To hunt Kael and his family. Her clan.

She had to warn the clan. But as she began to back away, a twig snapped under her foot. One of the hunter's head snapped up, his eyes scanning the tree line. For a heart-stopping moment, their eyes met.

"Woman," he shouted, pointing.

"Maya?" Eric's voice was a mixture of surprise and triumph. "We found you. Where's the ape man? Where's Bigfoot?"

Maya didn't answer. She turned and ran, her feet flying over the forest floor. All thoughts of stealth were forgotten as panic and adrenaline surged through her. She could hear shouts and the crash of pursuit behind her.

As she ran, Maya desperately tried to remember the silent signals for danger. Her hands flew in frantic gestures, her voice rising in a series of soft calls that she prayed would reach the Bigfoot foragers she knew were in the area.

The sounds of pursuit grew closer. Maya's lungs burned, her legs trembled with exhaustion. She knew she couldn't outrun them for long, not after the day she had. Just as despair began to set in, she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist, lifting her off her feet.

Kael's familiar scent enveloped her as he swung her onto his back. Without a word, he began to move through the forest with incredible speed and agility, easily outpacing their human pursuers.

As they raced towards the safety of the settlement, Maya clung to Kael, her mind reeling from the day's events. She had faced the trial, discovered a threat to her new family, and now found herself fleeing from her old life.

The forest blurred around them as Kael ran, his powerful strides eating up the distance. Maya could no longer hear their pursuers, but she knew the danger was far from over. Eric and his hunters were too close to the Tallstrider tribe for comfort.

Kael slowed as they entered the central clearing of the settlement. Maya slid from his back, her legs shaky from the wild ride and the day's exertions. Around them, curious faces peered from dwellings and platforms high in the trees. The alarm had clearly been raised.

"Maya," Kael's deep voice was filled with concern as he turned to face her. "What happened? I felt your fear ..."

Before she could answer, Ranak and Asha pushed through the gathering crowd. Ranak's face was stormy, but there was a glimmer of glee in his eyes as he looked at Maya.

"You failed the trial. You needed help returning to us."

Maya took a deep breath, trying to order her thoughts. "That doesn't matter now," she said, her voice hoarse from exertion and fear.

"How dare you? Doesn't matter."

She cut him off before he could go further. "My ex-boyfriend, Eric, has brought hunters with him into the forest. They have weapons, tracking equipment. They're looking for Kael, but I'm afraid they'll also find you."

A ripple of alarm went through the assembled Bigfoot.

"You brought them here," Ranak said. "This is your fault."

Asha stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on Maya's shoulder. "Tell us everything," she said gently.

As Maya recounted what she had seen, the atmosphere in the clearing grew tense. Ranak's scowl deepened with each word, while Kael's protective stance beside Maya grew more rigid.

When she finished, there was a moment of heavy silence. Then Ranak spoke, his voice a low growl. "This is what comes of allowing a human into our midst. She has led them straight to us."

"No," Maya protested, her heart sinking at the accusation. "I would never—"

"Father," Kael interrupted, his arm wrapping protectively around Maya. "Maya chose us over them. She used the skills she learned today to signal for help. I heard her. Brokk and his foragers saw her signals, and even now they're laying false trails for the humans."

Ranak's eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, Asha stepped between them. "This is not the time for blame," she said firmly. "We need to come up with a plan to get rid of the human threat."

As the clan erupted into discussion, debating strategies, and escape plans, Maya felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. The events of the day caught up with her all at once, and she sagged against Kael's solid frame.

The arguments flew fast and furious. Some wanted to attack the hunters first, destroy them. Others wanted to scare them off. Still others wanted to pack up the settlement and move deeper into the forest. All the plans had merits and downfalls. None of them were ideal.

But then it came to her, a solution that was so simple that she knew it would work.

"I have a better idea," Maya said, stepping away from Kael to face the tribe on her own.

Ranak opened his mouth to shut her down, but Asha raised her hand. "I would like to hear her plan."